The Albany County Legislature has announced that Feed Albany is the first recipient of a new award recognizing individuals or groups who stepped up in the community during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis.

The Albany County Legislature ‘Beyond the Call’ COVID-19 award will be presented each month, starting July 13, to individuals or groups nominated by Legislators for the work they did to help those in need. Recipients will be recognized during the Legislature’s meeting.

“Every day, we hear about someone, or a group of people, who went out of their way to help the community, by providing food to essential workers, distributing PPE supplies or just by extending a helping hand. Without these selfless individuals, many people who were impacted by the virus would not have gotten the help they needed,” Chairman Andrew Joyce said. “This award is just a small way that we can extend our gratitude for what they did during these last few months.”

“It is amazing the number of considerate people there are in Albany County and beyond who are willing to put others before themselves. This pandemic has affected all of us and showed us just how supportive our community can be. The least we can do is recognize those individuals who answered the call for help,” Majority Leader Dennis Feeney said.

Minority Leader Frank Mauriello added, “Time and time again, our community comes together during challenging times. We are very proud of all those who stepped up during the COVID-19 health crisis. We want to thank Feed Albany for the wonderful job they did caring for our first responders and those who were on the frontlines.”

“Thanks to Chairman Joyce, Legislator Peter, and the Albany County Legislature for this recognition of our work with Feed Albany,” said Dominick Purnomo, president and co-founder, Feed Albany. “It is vitally important for us as a community to get through these uncertain times together. We can’t thank all of our donors and volunteers enough for all of their help. Every day, we feel so fortunate of the amount of support we have received and we will continue to expand our efforts of feeding at-risk families and individuals across Albany County. I humbly accept this award on behalf of all of our volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the last four months to help us realize our mission.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Feed Albany has prepared, packaged and distributed over 120,000 meals to anyone in need three days a week. The meals were prepared at various locations including Savoy Taproom, Yono’s, The Point Restaurant and Lounge, McGeary’s Irish Pub, and Roux. The not-for-profit has delivered over 10,000 meals to 1,100 people without transportation, under quarantine or at-risk in Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer Counties.

In addition, Feed Albany distributed over 4,000 meals to the region’s homeless through a partnership with St. Joseph’s House and delivered groceries to over 1,000 families in the City of Albany by partnering with The Food Pantries for the Capital District, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Trinity Alliance, St. Vincent’s, and the Salvation Army.

Thousands of meals were also provided to the nurses, doctors, and front line staff at Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany Memorial Hospital, and Shaker Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.